Other information: Available for demonstrations – workshops –exhibitions- events etc

Joined on: 2009-01-09Last Updated: 2014-03-07

Artists Statement

Artists Statement

I have been fascinated by the technique and creative potential of throwing from my initial discovery of a pottery kick wheel in the art room of my secondary school over 40 years ago. My love of throwing has never diminished and consequently all my work begins its life on the wheel.

My current interests lie in the exploration of tensions between shape, proportion and balance through a personal exploration of materials and technique. I frequently alter shapes after initial throwing is completed by combining sections or re-shaping while the clay is still malleable.

I prefer to produce work in small batches of up to a dozen or so pieces at a time with each piece evolving and altering slightly from the previous one. Surface qualities are an important aspect of my work and a variety of decorative firing techniques are employed in order to achieve a range of surfaces from the shiny and intricate patterns found in crystalline glazes, through to low temperature, smoked pit firing and stoneware temperature for pitted volcanic surfaces.

Most recently I have been experimenting with smoking crystalline glazed surfaces. Apart from the relative complexity of firing techniques required to achieve crystals and by their unreliability, which both fascinates and frustrates in equal measures, I enjoy altering what can sometimes appear a sterile surface into one which reflects ready evidence of having come into contact with smoke and heat.

Current / Future Events

Current / Future Events

Current Work

Current Work

Individual thrown pieces and slab constructed layered bowls and platters. Work is produced for exhibitions and includes objects based on natural and organic forms and elements of landscape, often incorporating heavily impressed decoration.

Technical Information

Technical Information

Stoneware glazed work is fired to 1260 deg. C in electric top loading kilns. A white stoneware body is used for most crystalline glazed pieces and also for low temperature burnished and pit fired pieces.

Industrial Crank and Raku bodies are used for the larger slabbed and layered bowls.

Crystalline glazes use Ferro and Potclay crystal fritts as a base and range in soaking temperatures between 1190 – 1045 deg. C.

A matt white dolomite glaze in conjunction with oxides is a frequent choice for ‘sculptural’ pots in combination with unsieved locally gathered wood ash.

Career Background

Career Background

1951 - Born in Lauria, Southern Italy1956 - Moved to Britain 1969 – 73 - Attended Worcester College of Education 1974 – 79 - taught for five years in secondary schools in Worcester and Solihull.1979 - Left teaching to set up his first pottery studio and opened ‘Gallery 21’ (a pottery shop and small exhibition gallery) in Yardley, Birmingham. 1983 - Returned to education – became Head of Art and Design at Milton Keynes College and introduced the first full time art and design courses there.1994 - appointed Head of School of Art and Design at Rugby College and later became Assistant Principal. July 2006 - After a lengthy period of ‘ceramic inactivity’ of some 16 years between 1989 and 2005, returned to potting full time.

Publications and Articles

Publications and Articles

Author of:
- CREATIVE POTTERY (First published by Ebury Press, 1985)
- THE POTTERS’ PROJECT BOOK (First published by Windward Press,1987)
- THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF POTTERY TECHNIQUES (First published by Burlington Books, 1990 and now published and translated into 9 different languages)

- Article published Ceramic Review September/October 2008
- Published in www.arttoartpalette.com (March 2009 issue)
- Article published in Ceramic Review (November/December 2010 issue)
- Included in the book of 'Studio Potter's Marks'
- Work included in 'The Potter's Bible' by Marilyn Scott, Published A&C Black 2007

Membership

Membership

A member of the Midlands Potters Association (MPA).
A member of London Potters
Included in the British Craft Council Register of Makers